Construction for display cases and the like



April 22, 1-930. H. F. KEIL CONSTRUCTION FOR DISPLAY CASES AND THE LIKEFiled Feb. 10, 1928 IN ENTOR g ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 22, 1930 KennyKnit; F .scAnsDALn, NEW YOR f i consrnirorxon F03; DISPLAY CASES ANDEm'LIKE iiAp'plicatioii filed repruar 'lo, 192a Serial No. 253325;

This invention relates-to construction for display cases and the likeand more-particularlyr to'sliding panels or doors of such de- -v1ces. aV 5 One of the objectsof-the invention isto provide a mounting forsliding-panels of display cases or the'like which is; thor0ugh1y 5practical and vefiicient Another obj ect' is to provide a constructionof the above nature by means of which the panels are mounted so thatthey slide smoothly and quietly. Ans

other objectis to provide a construction of the above nature which isconveniently and I dependably maintained in eflicient-operatingcondition. Anotherfobject is to provide'a construction of the abovenature which is ca pable of being kept'clean conveniently. An: otherobject is'to provide a construction of. the above n'aturewhichdependably supports the panels for smooth and v easy sliding actionirrespective of the care or skillemployed by.

g the workman making the installation. Other objects will be inipartobvious '01 in part pointed out hereinafteri 1 ments,land arrangementsof parts as willbe exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter"described and the scopeof the application of indicated in the followingp p I a a a 7 panel 11. A series of the rollers is provided k for eachpanel and the rollers of each series i which will .b

In the accompanying drawing in which are shown one-or more var ouspossible emlOQdP' ments of the several features of thisinven o v I Theinvention accordingly: consists in the: 1 features ofconstruction,comblnatlons 0fele'- lar parts throughoutthe several views of thedrawing. I v .i 7'

Referring now to-the drawing in detail and-first to Figure lythere areshown two 'up right panelsor doo-rs10 and 11 of a display case: Thesepanels may beemployed to-close the front or rear of the display case andtbey are adaptd to be slid into -,overlapping?re lation to gain accesstojthe interior oft'the display case. The member 12frepres'ents -thebottom or base of the display caseand it has associated therewith anelongated groove in the construction here illustrated the'gro'ove 13"i'sformedfby. two spaced membersxlftand 15' which are secured to the base'12by an'y- V,

suitable securing means. The lower edges of the panels'10 and 11 arepositioned within the groove 13 and; beneath the panels and within thegroove arerollers which anti fric tion'ally support the panels'forislidingfinove In, the

construction here illustrated the' panels :10 and 1-1 have channelpieces lfi and 17 embracing their lower edges andexte'n'ding which maybe-formed in any suitable manner v throughout their lengths. The bottomsur v facesof these'channel pieces-wand 17 rest uponth'e rollers whichsupport the panels, the rollersq18-be1ng provided for t1'1e'pa'nel'10-and the rollers 19 being provided for the' are held in 'prope'rkspac'e'drelationby any suitable holding andrspacing means; 54- Preferably thespacerstake the form of elon-;

gated strips of sheet metal bent to have a. I

v Figure l' is a vertical sectional view show;

the lower Po s ir of slidin Pa 61S displaces a d t ir" suppqain 'means,a 1 v Figm'eZ is a. topjp1an view showing porttionsjo'f the panelsupporting cion struction Figure 3 a side viewion a; smallensc aler andbroken away, showing the partsthroughi V f F igureois' a planvi'ewshowings -iied QQHStru otioni I lar torFigu 'rel show 7 characters referto slrmcross-section'in the shape of a U, the spacing 1 member 20 forthe :rollers'18 and the spacing member 21; for the rollers19 beingcle'arly shown in Figure 11;. Extending betweenthe; p

sidewalls of the spacermembersiareshort shafts or spindles 22whichZ'paSsJaXialIy throughthe rollers, permitting freerotaftion' of the'rollers and yet,in-'con'junction with" 1 the spacing membersjholdingthe rollers in i predetermined spaced. relation as the "rollers 6; rolland the lspacersz'mov'e alongtherewith; I lAs shown in Figure.1, an d"asmaybe seen 11H:

Figure 3 also,-the upperportions o-fthe roll ers project throughopeningsinthe closed upper sides of the spacer members and the lower portions ofthe rollers/project downwardly below the side walls of the'spacers.

It may be herenoted that display case panels, such as the panels 10 and11, are trequent- 1y madeof heavy plate glass and their weight is verysubstantial. In order that they may slide smoothly ancliquietly -it-isvery important tliatth'e surfaces engaged by the supporting rollers 18and 19 lie smooth and tree from obstruction. The slightest unevenness inthe surfaces upon which the rollers roll" causes a very undesirablerumblingv and vibration when the heavy panels are moved.

Also, display cases in w-hich these panels are used are oftenemployed'for the purpose of displaying fdod and i't i becomes 1 of greatimportance that the panels and their sup-portin; ineansbe kept clean:

Referring again to Figure 1-', secured in the groove -13 is a sheetmetal'member 'having a central upright web23 and a pair of lateralflange portions 24:; and I 25 wh ch rest tl atwis'e againstthebaseof thegroove This sheet metalmember'isrigidlysecured wlt-lnn the groovepreferably by nieans' of suitable see curing means such as'screws26passing clownwardly throughopenings in the parts24 and 25 an d:into;th'e.. display case base12 The "memberisf-torinedfrom a single;strip of sheet metal which :is bent :upon itself to form the uprightportion 23 of double the thickness of the fsheetmetal, the parts 24and25fbeing flanged foutwardly at right anglesto pm I Above the' \sheet'metal member just: de-' scribed-is a second vsheet metal member "cont.prising'an upright web 27-28, laterally eX-' tendingiportions 29 and 30,and a pairof upright side'fiangestal and 32 which rest against the sidewalls of the groove;

I sheet metal member is preferably formed of a;single Striprof-sheetmetal, the strip being bent upon itself to provide the uprightportions"- 27 and :28 which embrace the upright web 23 of the lowersheetmetal member.

' The partt29: provides a track upon which the-rollers. 18 roll and thepart 30 p rovides a exceptthat a frictional holding 'may be hadbetweemtheparts 27 and-"28 and the part '23." The surfacesof 'the trackparts 29 and 30 are psmooth; andxi'egular andfree' from 'any openingsorscrwheads orothe'robstinctioris wh iclrwou-ld, interfere Jvith- @thesmooth op g eratiort'of the rollers: The'scre'ws' 26 dependabflyz hold;1=thelower sheet metal member in posit on:andpthe upright web23'ot thismem ber determines thefpo'sition of the upper sheet metal-,;me1nbezanditstraclr portions so that, once the lower member is" secured inposition, the? position ozt 1t -e tracks and-walls {27 This "upper Theside flanges 31 and 32 of the upper sheet metal member rest preferablyagainst the respective'side walls of the groove 13 as above mentioned.The rollers 18 and the spacing member 20 move between the flange 31 andthewall 27 ,and the rollers 19 and the spacing member 21 move betweenthe flange 32and;the.wall 28; The parts 31 and 27, and the parts 32and28, thus guide the rollers and theirspacers in their movement. The uppersheet metal member is formed so that the distancesbetween the parts" 31-and- 27 and between the parts 32and 28 are such that the rollers andtheir spacers fit properly therebetwecn for smooth and easy actionwithout binding; Thus, the accuracy or inaccuracy with which the wallsof the groove 13' are formed has no effect upon the smooth and freeaction of the rollers, the latter being always dependahly guided.

\ As has been mentioned above," the sheet 1 metal member comprising theparts27 and 28, the track portions29 and '30, and theside flanges 31and32'is-not fastened'in the'g'r'ooi e and may beeasilyremoved; when thepanels 10 and'll are cleaned, they are ordinarily lifted out of thedisplay case by raising them upwardly and then swinging them outwardlyat the bottom. After the panels have been remoyed; the uppersheet metalmember may be lifte'd'out of "the grooi e 13', carrying the rollersandthe spacers'witli it, and the entire structure may be thereupon easily,cleaned;

when the removable track member is replaced, ltS PQSllllOIl ispredetermined 'by the parts27. and 28 fitting over the central web 23 ofthe lower sheet metal member which is" permanentlysecured inplace. 'Itna'y be pointedout also that the parts 27 and 28 preferablyprojectyupwardly between the lowerportions" of the two panels 10'an d.11

and hold themin proper spaced relation; In order to fac litate removalof the remoifable track ineinberythere are preferablyprovidedintherparts 2? and 28.0p'e'nings'27 and28 which permit of obtaining agrip with the fingers or whielrinay ber'en'gaged by an implement, suchas a button'hoolef I In the construction shownin Figure 4, the trackportions 29 and 30 are provided with central longitudinal ribs 33 and 34: respectively. The rollers 18 and. 19 have formed in their peripheriescentral grooves 35 and 36 with whi'elifthe .ribsf33 and 34 cooperate asth'eitillejis roll. The ribs 33 andiea are bent from the'sheetmetal and?are ,Iiiade isinooth and regular, free from any holes or lnterrup:

, tions in'their surfaces,-soIthattherollers rollbatmanemming tea areeases lide quietly. coact ingribs and grooves-are advantageous in thatthey keep therollers always centered between the side alls ofthe spacesin'which' they move and thus prevent a rubbing or scraping between themetal parts asth'e panels areslid,

-Also-,'in the modification shoivn'in Figure 4,-the'central vertical webof the bottom sheet metal member is omitted, this member com-- 7 prisingsimply a flat base portion-40 resting 10 against the base ofthe grooveand extending from sideto side thereof, and having the upright side}fianges Bl and 32 which'f rest againstthe side allsofthefgroovejsubstam tially as in the form shown in" Figure-{1, the sideflanges 31 and'32 in theform shown in 1 Figure 1 being formed-ontheupper member While in the form shown in Figure 4 they are E I'IDGClOII the lovver'member and fastenedin the groove thereWith The memoer lO'witheits side fiangesis thus substantially U- shape and is permanentlysecured in the groove by any suitable securing n eans' extendingdownwardly into the base lQsuch, for example, as the screws 26. In thistypeof construction the parts 27 and 28' of the Y upperltrack'memberform aspacer forthe 7 panels just as they do inthe form shown inFigure-1-, butpreferably these twofl-parts'f 27 land; 28' rest flatwise againsteach other 30 insteadof being spaced apart. The upper i track nember'islooselyipositionedabovetlie V lowermember and is conveniently removableby engaging a suitable iinplem'ent' in the opening27 q; In thisconstruction, as well as in the 1 construction showneinl Figure 1, the

rollers and their spacing members are guided in their movementsbythemetal' walls27 and v illand the metalwalls28' and '32, thesmooth-Jness of operation thus bein'g'independent of V 49 the accuracy withwhichthe groove is formed r, and being not affected by warping or shrink- 50isa continuous inemberiextendingthe full.

iiilength of theigrooveand theshort spaced pieces serve the' ntendedpurpose in substantially the same manner.

Asinany possible embodiments be' made of the above invention and as manyjiichan'ges 'inight be madeinthe embodiment above set" forth, it is tobe understood that r all matter hereinbefore set forth or'showninthe"accompanyingdrawing is to be interso pret'ed'asillustrati-veandnot in aliiniting 7 Ina-supporting for slidingpanels 1 fordisplaycases and the like, in: combination,

' 5 t I a pluralityof rollers-adaptedtobeipositioned gated sheetmet lbeneath; the panel to anti-frictionally sup,- port the panel for slidingmovement, and

means to be positionedunderneathsaid rollers to form atra'ck'thereforcomp rising a sheet" 7 metal member adapted to besecured;flatv Wise,against a base anda {second sheet metal member resting upon said firstmember and removable therefrom, and afda l ited'to provide a smoothsurface on which the rollers rel-1,

,2. In a suppoi'tingmeansfor sli diiigpanels fordi'splay cases and thelike, in combination,

a plurality of rollers adaptedto'be positioned beneath' the panel'ftoanti-'irictionally' s ip i port thepanel for sliding movement,.,and smeans to be p ositioned underneath said rollers to form a track;therefor. comprising a sheet metal member adapted to be secured fiativise against a base and having opei'iingsjfoi',

screws to, passjdownwardly therethrough into said'fbajse, and a secondsheet metal'member "free I fro nf openings resting upon said, first andremovable therefrom, said second (sheet metal member being adapted.toiprovide a smoothlsurface, on which thei ollers roll' fr V i frominterference 'by 'said "screw openings or.

the screw heads.

V 3. In a supportingm'eans fol-ending panels to provide 7 a runway forsaid T rollers having a base port on forming'a traclcon wli c-lrthe fordisplay cases and the"like,"in,coinbina- 'tion, ja .v plurality ofrollers adapted to -be positioned beneath the 'paneljto' anti-fric;vtionally support the panel for Slldll'lgfllnQVC: j iinent, a"holder'ffor cooperating with said rollers to hold them in spacedrelation, and. an elongated sheet' nietahmember adapted IOU rollersroll,-"said sheetimetal'member being adapted to be P i i ed in a groovetheretor';

in the displaycase base andfbeing removable therefrom for cleaningandsheet metal 1 means adapted to be fiXed infsaid groove under saidelongatedsheetnietal member, 'one of'said sheet metal "devices having upright side flanges for guiding saidrollers and '3 said holder. l 1 I 4.In a supporting ine'ansfor sliding panels for'displayw cases and thelikejin con bin'ae tion with a displayeasebase having anelonanti-frictionaily suppo 't'tlie panelfor slid j iii'g' movementlengthwise thereot, an elongated sheet metal in ember positioned in csaid rollers, anda. pair of uprightside flanges for guiding and forminga predetermined path for the rollers in their movement.

5. In a supporting meansfo r slidingpanels: for display cases and thelike, in 'combina-' tion with adisplay easebasehaving an -elon gatedgroovethere n anda "plurality of rollers adapted to" roll in. saidgroove and' t anti fri'ctionally' support the panel-for sud-1 ingmovement "lengthwise: thereof, an elon f eriiloerpositimied:irrs'aijd,v

i he

gated groove therein 'andla' plurality of i V rollers adapt-ed to rollin said groove and g ebe seonwhichthe enses r011, .t V. .l lf hi t,,nietzil member in said steers idL w v member iisf'c riecllon'e of saidsheet metal i prighft sidfiinges .7 e lipredeterinined for the rollersin their movement; said elongatedsheet l ete'l member be1ngremov- V letdmse'id eii erefe'r s. f 6;. Ina'snppo ting means for sl ding panelsfor display ee es'jandthejlike, in combines tion with 1' displey czisebasehaving an elongl'ite'cl groove therei and a pluralityof rollersadapted to roll in said groove andanti-fricmentfllengthwi'se thereof itsheet niet'elineni- Po o ed i sa d s e a- IQC QQ' zigeinst thebzisei'thereoi by securing devices eiit erin'g the 'bzise, and e secondelongated sheet nieen ineinber positioned in said groove aliove'szridfirst sheet metal member said n a onwitli'aj ofpp rallel penel'sadaptedtofslide into overlap; il'g relation and a-Ijdisas base he'vingf'enelongated groove; r ginti frijctionally supporting one of id P ls; rolers f nti-,f o l y. i

pforting the'othjer of ,said-pene l ,,,end a sheet ositioned in sziidgroove hzv:

ide -1 mg devices passing-do ivnwardly from said baise" on," andese'cond sheet metal member positioned in said groove having a centlongitiidinal web exten'dingnpwardlybetween'th'e lowerj'edge portions ofseid panels and zrpqirof baseportio-nsone on either-side ofls id w b endrestingrzibovesaid base portion '1 said firs't member, one of said baseofseid second member forming a 1 V k on which said first rollers rolland the other of saidlb'as'e portions o f said second memberfori Aroll'pancl saild secondmember being vgible from said groove forcleaning. "snpportin'g means for sliding pan:

" cases and the like, in combinato slide into;overlappingrelation andedisj- Plio C support ng" t she hzi .1 1' V I said, g v nd sec.dmseldgroove 11 "sa d first sheet metal nen ny si pportthe panel forsliding m r v ori resting egziinst the base of g V ls'ecnredin s a dgroove by se-g.

get-rack on which said second tlo'ffwith a pair of parallel panelsadapted e having anelongzited groovey qro'llers for anti-fijetionallvsupporting; one rollers for enti-firietionelly he I other of saidpanels, and 1e, iitalfmeniber positioned in saidgroove .pe li nsre tnszas n t h o x .ecl' tosl'idejil'i't-d-ovei ciiririgdewces passingdownwardly wastes said second rollersroll, oneof'said members halvingalso nprightside flanges one. at the outer side of each of sa cltrackportions, said side flanges resting adjacent tofth'e respective sidewalls of sa d groove and cooperating with sa d centrelfweb portion toguide sald rollers in their movements, said second member beingremovable from said groove for cleaning. 7 v o i V i 7 V 9. In asupporting means for; sliding pane ls for display eases and the like, incombination with a pair of parallel panels adapted to slideintooverljapping relation and display ease base having an elongatedgroove; rollers for anti-frictionally supporting one of said panels,rollers for anti-frictionally supporting the other of said panels, and asheet n' etal member positioned-1n said groove having s centrallongitudinal upright vveb, a base portion on one sideofsaic'lwebiorming'i tree-k on whichsaidfirst' rollers roll and a base portion onthe other side ofseid web forming .a-track onwlnch said secondrollersroll, said sheet metal member being removable fIOii'lf said groove forcleaning end said web; por

tion-thereof having an opening thereiiito iacilitatejsaid removal. I, vI 10; In a" supporting niean's'lfor sliding pm els' for dlsphiy casesand the like, infcoinbination with 5 display case base having anelongated groove therein an'd'a plural ty of rollersadeptedto? roll insz'iicl-groove and anti-irist'ionally snpportthe panel for slidingmovement lengthwise thereof," a holder for Cooperating and nioving withsaid rollers to hold them in spaced relation ,compnsing asheet metalmember having "side flanges eX- terior of' the side faces of saidrollers,"end sheet met'alfmeans positionedinsa'id groove having zi baseon which the rollers roll end a pair of upright side floinges'between'which said side fla'ngesof seid holderre'st adept,

.ed to be engaged thereby togni'de .sai d rollers] and said holder intheir moveinentend ineens' supporting said sheet inetal inegins in Isaid groove comprising 9; 'plnral'itjof sp ee "(1' sheet direetionlengthwise of saidgroovezind's'ecured in said groove. g i, '11. In a'supporting means for sliding panels :forfdispliy cages findthe'like,"infe'on binati'oniwith'e pair "f 'ai llel' adapt; v i'ngrelation ands display case base having an elongated groove,

metal members ofr'elatively short length'in a said first member, a baseportion on one side I of said web forming -a track on which said firstrollers roll, a base portion on the other side of said web forming atrack on which. said second rollers roll and integral side flanges oneat the outer side of each of said base portions, said side flangesresting adjacent to therespective side walls of the groove andcooperating with said central web of said upper member to guide saidrollers, said upper member being removable from said groove forcleaning. 1

12. In a supporting means for sliding panels for display cases and thelike, in combination with a display case base having an elongated groovetherein and a plurality of rollers adapted to roll in said groove andantifrictionally support a panel for sliding movement lengthwisethereof, of means to be positioned underneath said rollers toform atrack therefor, said means including means secured in said groove and anelongated sheet metal member positioned in said groove'and having a basefor supporting the rollers, said sheet metal member being removably heldto said second-mentioned means.

13 In a supporting means for sliding panels for display cases and thelike, in com bination with a display case base having an elongatedgroove-therein and a plurality'of rollers adapted to roll in said groovean 1 anti-frictionally support a panel for sliding movement lengthwisethereof, of means to be positioned underneath said rollers to form atrack therefor, said means including means secured in said groove and asheet metal member interposed therebetween and said rollers and having abase for supporting the rollers, said sheet metal member and saidsecondmentioned means being shaped to interfit and to cause'said sheetmetal member to be frictionally held to said second-mentioned means. 14.In a supporting means for sliding panels for display cases and the like,in combination with a display case base having an 7 elongated groovetherein and. a plurality of rollers adapted to roll in said groove andanti-frictionally support a panel for sliding movement lengthwisethereof, of means to be positioned underneath said rollers to form atrack therefor, said means including a sheet metal member secured insaid groove and a sheet metal member interposed therebetween and saidrollers and having a base for supporting said rollers, one of said sheetmetal members having spaced portions between which a portion of theother sheet metal member is received and frictionally held.

15. In a supporting means for sliding panels for display cases and thelike, in com- I bination with a pair of parallel panels adapted to slideinto overlapping relation and a display case base having an elongatedgroove, rollers for anti-frictionally supporting one of said panels,rollers for anti-frictionally supporting the other of said panels, asheet metal member secured in said groove and having means projectingupwardly from the bottom of said groove and a sheet metal memberpositioned in said groove and having a base forming tracks for saidrollers and being shaped to provide a web extending longitudinallythereof and intermediate of the tracks for said rollers, said web andsaid projecting means interfitting.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this30th day of January, 1928. o

HENRY F. KEIL.

